The Labor enquirer., 1887-11-12
Eisl1on a guhxsk ! Gentences
Connnts1 = n tl1sn-
neut ~ IA
SPlss, Rishsr, A.gal Rarssns and
Liasy = d nanoea = De-
gsst'by u Cssrts:
STATE OF ILLINOIS,
EXECUTIVE OPPIcE.

gust. 1886. in the Cook count,
criminal court. August Spies. AL
bert R. Parsons. Samuel Fielden
Michael Schwab. Adolph Fischer
George Engel and Louis Lingg
we're found guilty BY verdict of q
jury, and afterwards sentenced tc
be hanged for the murder Of
Matthias ]. Degan.
An appeal was taken from such
finding and sentence to the su-
preme court Of the state. That
court, upon final hearing and after
mature deliberation. unanimously
affirmed the judgment of the
court below.
The case now comes before me,
by petition of the defendants, on
consideration as governor of the
state. If the letters of Albert
Parsons, Adolph Fischer, George
Engel and Louis Lingg demand
ing their release. or. as they ex-
press it. Liberty or death" and
protesting in the strongest Ian
guage against mercy or the COM
mutation of the sentence pro-
nounced on them. can be consid-
cred petitions. pardon, could it be
granted, which might imply any
guilt whatever on the part of
either of them would not be such
a vindication as they demand,
Executive Intervention upon the
ground insisted upon by the four
above-named persons could in nc
proper sense be deemed an exer-
else of the constitutional power to
grant reprieves. combinations and
pardons unless used in belief on
my part of their entire limo cence
of the crime of which they stand
convicted.
A careful consideration of the
evidence in the record of the trial
of the parties as well as of that
alleged and claimed for them out
side of the record, has failed to
produce upon my mind any i'm
preston tending to impeach the
verdict of the jury and the judg-
ment of the trial court, or of the
supreme court in affirming the
guilt of these parties. Satisfied,
therefore, as am of their guilt, !
am precluded from considering
the question of committing the
sentences of Albert R. Parsons
Adolp Fischer, George Engel and
Louis Lingg to imprisonment ir
the penitentiary. as they emphati-
cally declare they will not accept
such Communication.
Samuel Fielden, Schwab ane
August Spies unite in a petition
for executive clemency." Field
en- and Schwab in addition pre-
sent separate and supplemental,
petitions for combinations o
their sentences. While, as sale
above, am satisfied of the guilt o
all parties found by the verdict o
the jury which was sustained BY
the judgment of the courts,
most careful consideration of th'
whole subject leads me to tn
conclusion that the sentence o
the law as to Samuel Fielden anc
Michael Schwab may be modified
as to each of them in the interes
of humanity and without doinI
violence to public justice, and a
to said Samuel Fielden and Mich
ael Schwab the sentence is com
muted to imprisonment in tn
penitentiary for life.
AS to all the other above-name
defendants, do not feel justihe'
in interfering with the sentence o
the court. While l would gladl,
have come to different conclu
sion in regard to the sentence c
defendants, August Spies, Adolp
Fischer. George Engel, Alber
R. Parsons and Louis Lingg,
regret to say that. under the so
emn sense of the obligations {
nv Office, | have be- en- unable t
do so. RICHARD J. OGLEsBY,
RI. Co,,aroor